World Cup 2018: Argentina, Messi On Brink Of Tournament Exit After Croatia Drubbing

World Cup 2018: Argentina, Messi On Brink Of Tournament Exit After Croatia Drubbing

Lionel Messi’s World Cup dream was left hanging by a string as Croatia controlled into the last 16 with a 3-0 defeat of Argentina at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Thursday night. Second-half objectives from Ante Rebic, Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic fixed a merited triumph as a poor Argentina were left on the precarious edge of an embarrassing first round exit. The Group D crush implies Argentina have only one point from two amusements, which means they will most likely need to beat Nigeria in their last diversion and expectation different outcomes go their approach to maintain a strategic distance from disposal. The outcome left Argentinian fans in tears inside the Nizhny Novgorod stadium, while Diego Maradona viewed from the stands in dazed incredulity.

Ante Rebic, Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic scored for Croatia.

Croatia led the pack after a shocking bumble by Argentine goalkeeper Willy Caballero in the 53rd moment, the plug chipping a leeway straight to Rebic who lashed home a booming volley.

Genuine Madrid star Modric at that point created a charging 80th-minute objective before Messi’s Barcelona colleague Rakitic finished the scoring after Croatia cut separated Argentina’s hapless barrier in damage time.

The thrashing leaves the Argentinians confronting a despicable rehash of their 2002 crusade when they likewise went out at the gathering stage in the wake of being tipped as conceivable World Cup victors.

All the consideration after the 3-0 annihilation will center around Argentina and Messi however it was likewise the consequence of a fine execution by Croatia.

An inquisitively inert and deadened Argentine show was topped off by Caballero’s oversight when he some way or another figured out how to chip the ball only a couple of yards to Croatia’s Rebic, following a Gabriel Mercado backpass.

Rebic volleyed home easily however veteran Caballero will have bad dreams for whatever remains of his days at his error – liable to highlight in any rundown of most exceedingly bad goalkeeping bungles for quite a while.

What’s more, all through everything Messi, apparently the world’s best player, remained a fringe and to a great extent awkward figure, quickly glimmering to life on excessively few events.

The 30-year-old’s fantasy of winning the World Cup currently look remote.

With all the pre-coordinate consideration on Messi it was his Real Madrid partner Luka Modric who gave the amusement’s actual flashes of virtuoso.

The Croatian was the one player to discover space and time in a wounding experience and it was his snapshot of enchantment in the second half which settled the experience.

Lifting the roll together nearly 25 yards outside the Argentina region, Modric had the alternative of no less than two passes however awaited his chance before planting a phenomenal shot past a hapless Caballero.

Rakitic included a third when the diversion was up for Argentina.

They had just undermined quickly before then to balance with Meza and Messi nearly scrambling in an objective in the 64th moment.

Past that Argentina looked to a great extent dumbfounded, and progressively disappointed by Croatia.

They could have led the pack in the primary half yet Enzo Perez missed practically an open objective from only 12 yards in the 30th moment.

It was to be Argentina’s solitary shot of the half – and their most obvious opportunity all night.

Croatia went when Mario Mandzukic headed mysteriously wide in the 33rd moment from only three yards.